Which Safari rifle
- Thread starter army_eod
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edwardware
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Many will say .375 Ruger, but I wanted a classic, so I bought a .375H&H Win M70.
Perhaps I was biased by a shelf full of Capstick books. . .
Perhaps I was biased by a shelf full of Capstick books. . .
George P
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I guess a lot will depend on what you envision going for on safari. A good friend of mine sets up safaris in Africa for clients; if you're talking about elephant or similar, you'll want something more like a 416; if it's plains game, a 375H&H would be a great choice. I would ask your outfitter also what he recommends as ammo availability might be a factor as well.
troy fairweather
Member
Any rifle will be good with me, but think the 550s will all be gone soon. With the cartridges depends on were your going some don't allow the 9.3 and I think even the 375 in some places to. What animals are you thinking, the 375 has a bit more power over the 9.3 but even the 375 is considered the 30-30 of Africa.
I think it would be closer to the .30-06......but hey, Ive never hunted Africa.
Closest i got was poking an eland with a stick, thru the trophy park fence near our farm as a kid.
The Rifle would decide the chambering for me. M70 and CZ get the .375 h&h,
Ruger would be .375 ruger or 9.3x62.
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All of them need a bit of testing and most some tuning before I’ll use them for dangerous game. None mentioned are a bad choice.
Just make sure they’ll feed your chosen bullets, many factory bolt guns will not reliably feed square nosed bullets.
And make sure your rifle will function with full speed, rapid and forceful bolt strokes. I’ve found most Rugers will not without some tweaking. Older CZ’s in heavy calibers have a nasty habit of bouncing the safety to “on” during recoil, the newer ones are modified.
I’ve never seen a M-70 that came from the factory with proper bedding, and in heavy calibers that not only affects the accuracy it causes stress cracks in the stock.
Any factory or custom gun can have feeding issues and that’s the last thing you need at the moment of truth on a DG hunt.
I’ve had a M-70 that would pop open the floor plate in recoil and dump the rounds out on the ground. I’ve seen a CZ that had the trigger fall off after about 100 rounds. I’ve seen a CZ that wouldn’t pick up the second or fourth round. I’ve seen several M-77 that would fail to fire occasionally. I’ve had a Brockman on an MRC action that round to the same.
I’ve seen a Weatherby Mk V that would fire on safety release and I’ve seen a M-77 fo the same.
The point to all this you need your DG right to be as squared away and reliable as possible. All rifle makes can and do have issues, spend some time doing serious work with them and burn several hundred rounds through them before heading over to Africa,
Just make sure they’ll feed your chosen bullets, many factory bolt guns will not reliably feed square nosed bullets.
And make sure your rifle will function with full speed, rapid and forceful bolt strokes. I’ve found most Rugers will not without some tweaking. Older CZ’s in heavy calibers have a nasty habit of bouncing the safety to “on” during recoil, the newer ones are modified.
I’ve never seen a M-70 that came from the factory with proper bedding, and in heavy calibers that not only affects the accuracy it causes stress cracks in the stock.
Any factory or custom gun can have feeding issues and that’s the last thing you need at the moment of truth on a DG hunt.
I’ve had a M-70 that would pop open the floor plate in recoil and dump the rounds out on the ground. I’ve seen a CZ that had the trigger fall off after about 100 rounds. I’ve seen a CZ that wouldn’t pick up the second or fourth round. I’ve seen several M-77 that would fail to fire occasionally. I’ve had a Brockman on an MRC action that round to the same.
I’ve seen a Weatherby Mk V that would fire on safety release and I’ve seen a M-77 fo the same.
The point to all this you need your DG right to be as squared away and reliable as possible. All rifle makes can and do have issues, spend some time doing serious work with them and burn several hundred rounds through them before heading over to Africa,
ExAgoradzo
Member
HH
Didn’t I see you one time say the AHR upgrade to the CZ was the best Safari/DG gun?
Been lusting since, but as I’m not hunting in Africa soon...
Greg
Didn’t I see you one time say the AHR upgrade to the CZ was the best Safari/DG gun?
Been lusting since, but as I’m not hunting in Africa soon...
Greg
js8588
Member
9.3x62
CZ
CZ
DocRock
member
Having recently acquired a rifle in 375 Ruger,I suppose I am supposed to make propaganda on its behalf. But I will not. For an actual Safari rifle, it has to be a Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H. It is just the classic mid-Century combo.
I have no reason not to support CZ or the Ruger, and, as H&H Hunter noted above, none of them are immune to issues of failures. But the Winchester in 375 H&H is, in my view, THE way to go.
I have no reason not to support CZ or the Ruger, and, as H&H Hunter noted above, none of them are immune to issues of failures. But the Winchester in 375 H&H is, in my view, THE way to go.
earlthegoat2
Member
This might be what you are referring to but a BRNO 602 (I guess that would still be the predecessor to the CZ 550) I had a way long time ago had a backwards safety on it. This made it counter intuitive to use as well as possibly being engaged to the on position under recoil.
There probably was or is a conversion for the safety but other than that seemingly inane thing that rifle was pretty bomb proof. That one was a 458 Lott and in the early 2000s I got it pre owned for $600. Probably not so inexpensive anymore.
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I am not referring to the BRNO 602. I am specifically referring to the earlier model CZ 550’s. When they first started the production line in calibers heavier than the .375 H&H they were having the safety bounce issues. The issue was resolved after the first or second year of production.
The BRNO 602 was considered to be a better built rifle than the 550. Backwards safety and all.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
All three rifles are very nice. I would say the CZ 550 would be a great choice in 375 HH.
I don't have any experience with the CZ.
As far a personal choice CZ and Winchester have stopped producing the 375 HH in left handed rifles. That leaves the Ruger models. I would go with the Left Hand Guide Rifle in 375 ruger. I like the laminated stock and stainless steel barrel and action.
I don't think that I will ever get to go on a African Safari, but if I did I would go after plains game so a 7mm or 300 mag would fill that need.
Good luck with your search and enjoy the hunt!
I don't have any experience with the CZ.
As far a personal choice CZ and Winchester have stopped producing the 375 HH in left handed rifles. That leaves the Ruger models. I would go with the Left Hand Guide Rifle in 375 ruger. I like the laminated stock and stainless steel barrel and action.
I don't think that I will ever get to go on a African Safari, but if I did I would go after plains game so a 7mm or 300 mag would fill that need.
Good luck with your search and enjoy the hunt!
earlthegoat2
Member
The old Ruger 77 Mk II Safaris were really cool looking.
I heard they took some tweaking to make reliable with all ammo. Particularly the 458 Lott version.
Almost always involves extractor adjustments, fees ramp tweaking, and magazine modifications.
I heard they took some tweaking to make reliable with all ammo. Particularly the 458 Lott version.
Almost always involves extractor adjustments, fees ramp tweaking, and magazine modifications.
BigSteve57
Member
We took 30-06 and .375 H&H magnum on a plains game hunting trip to Namibia and did fine with both.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Mine is a CZ .416Rigby. I originally planned to have it converted to .500Jeffery but may pursue other options for something that heavy at some point. I'd also like to have one of the Hawkeye Africans in .375Ruger as a "light" rifle.
Plains game will either be handled with the .270 on top, or the .338RCM on the bottom. Or I'll get an early commercial Mauser sporter like I've been eyeballing.
Plains game will either be handled with the .270 on top, or the .338RCM on the bottom. Or I'll get an early commercial Mauser sporter like I've been eyeballing.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Very nice rifles! Thank you for sharing!!!
Jerry M
Member
Took a .30-06 on two trips. killed ten animals with 10 shots. Took .375 H&H magnum along on the second trip for lion and buffalo. Neither of which fell to one shot. I was going to take a Ruger #1 in .458 Winchester Magnum, but that gun hurt me. Gave me whiplash. Bought a used Sako in .375 H&H with a fiberglass stock from Cabel's. Shooting it was way more comfortable. I shot 100 rounds getting ready. Shot the lion at 40 yards and the Buff at 125 yards.
Whatever you buy make sure you can shoot it. Choose a good bullet for the game.
Good luck
Jerry
Whatever you buy make sure you can shoot it. Choose a good bullet for the game.
Good luck
Jerry
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Great advice, congratulations on your hunt!
Nature Boy
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Riomouse911
Member
CraigC, is the stainless M77 RSI a 7x57? The nicest old safari caliber for small/medium antelope and warthogs.
I have a red pad RSI in .243 and really like how it handles.
Sweet set
!
Stay safe.
I have a red pad RSI in .243 and really like how it handles.
Sweet set
!Stay safe.
SwampWolf
Member
I'll never get to Alaska, let alone Africa. 
But someday, I'd love to get a CZ rifle chambered in .404 Jeffrey.
But someday, I'd love to get a CZ rifle chambered in .404 Jeffrey. - Status
